Anyone have a homebirth then choose hospital for next birth?

[shells_n_cheese]

I had a c/s for #1 ("failed" induction). #2 was HBAC, but we had a shoulder dystocia (not "sticky shoulders"--DD STUCK for 4 min, needed resuscitation, Brachial plexus injury (resolved), transfer etc.).

DH, after saying he was 100% DONE for a while now, says he is thinking #3 in the near future. Needless to say I am ECSTATIC about this. I always wanted 3, and feel very happy that he as agreed more or less.

Anyways, I got very anxious today thinking about birth #3. If all goes well, we will be pregnant again someday, and I WILL be birthing another baby. I know subsequent babies are usually bigger--#1 was 8 lb 7 oz, and #2 was 8 lb 14 oz. I am worried what #3 would be.

I am afraid of another SD. I know that SD is handled better at home--but what about severe SD's where the Gaskin or various other maneuvers don't resolve it (Gaskin didn't resolve our SD--went to various maneuvers over and over)? What if a full resuscitation is needed? Or *gulp* the Zavanelli manuever?

But at the hospital--even with a supportive MW or OB--I am afraid of being out of control. The disinterested staff, the protocols etc. It's their turf. But, honestly, safe wise, I think I might feel safer there.

But then a HUGE part of me wants that homebirth experience. Then I feel selfish. Part of me doesn't want to give up that homebirth experience I always wanted--snuggling in bed after a fantastic birth.... I really want that. And if I never get that, I will feel a little sad, I guess.

Then a small part of me (really, really small) is thinking maybe just a scheduled c/s and just be done with it.

I know I have plenty of time to think about it, but still, today got me thinking.

I don't know what I am trying to say/ask in this post--maybe someone to share their homebirth to hospital birth story.. or just any thoughts, words of wisdom, encouragement?

Thanks.

[lotus.blossom]

I don't have any words of wisdom, but I have been thinking these same thoughts lately. I'm not even sure yet about number 3. My DH changes his mind in either direction constantly. But number 2 is only 8 months so I have time.

If I do have number 3 it will have to be in a hospital. I would be either a
VBA2C or a RCS. My homebirth transfer for number 2 was my one shot and it was screwed up. My midwives won't take me back on and I'd be super lucky to find a doctor to take me on as a VBA2C and I'd have to travel at that.

I guess in my heart I know that the hospital is just where I need to be. Some women were born to give birth. Some women have multiple easy births. I'm not one of them. Homebirth is not the magical answer to all unsatisfactory births. I thought it would be, I had all the confidence that it would be 100% different than my first birth. And it was pretty awesome, but the end result was still the same. I can't seem to have a baby that is lined up well enough to get through my tiny pelvic arch. No matter how much I prepare for it, they just turn the wrong way. I feel like I would be tempting fate to try it again. Although I totally long to have a birth that doesn't include recovery from major surgery.

If I were in your shoes I would go for the hospital birth. But only if I had a great hospital and super supportive doc/midwife and an awesome doula.
But I hope that someone comes and weighs in on the possibility of having another shoulder dystocia. Doesn't it suck that you can't have a crystal ball to see what the future holds?

[tireesix]

Ok, first of all my first baby was 7 lb 2, my second was 9 lb 5 and my third was.......................





7 lb 6

So they don't always get bigger. I was just real careful during my last pregnancy, I ate well and exercised (despite my awful SPD).

Anyhoo, I was also constantly being told that 3rd births are AWFUL. It wasn't, it was the easiest by far.

Ok, number 1 was a traumatic hospital induction lasting 4 days, second degree tear, ventouse etc, was supposed to be a homebirth.

I decided that for baby number 2 I DEFINITELY wanted a home birth but I kept freaking out and thinking maybe I should just go for a section especially when I reached the 42 week stage but she came at nearly 43 weeks. Labour was hard going, I suffered a PPH (it was small, 500ml but I was really affected by it), I had a tear from vagina to anus and ended up in hospital anyway getting sewed up. It wasn't an awful birth, it wasn't a great birth, I decided no more kids.

Baby number 3 somehow or another happened (yeah, I had sex but come on, a baby??????).

I really wanted a homebirth, I really wanted to go to hospital and just have it over with, I ended up with an unplanned unassisted birth which was FANTASTIC.

Anyway, yeah, you have reasons to totally want a hospital birth but you have reasons to want a home birth and only you can make that decision.

However, from what I have read, you do have an increased risk of shoulder dystocia apparently because it has happened before.

Apparently shoulder dystocia is linked to big babies BUT at least a half of all babies who have shoulder dystocia are under 4kg.

Anyhoo, I got the above from: http://www.rcog.org.uk/womens-health...ulder-dystocia

I just know that for me, after two previous difficult births, I was absolutely, fantastically happy, that my third was so wonderful, it might not have turned out like that but I am glad I gave it a go. Obviously, this was my choice and isn't the right choice for everyone.

I guess this doesn't really answer anything. Maybe you and your DH should talk things through and see if you can come to a decision that you are both comfortable with. Also, maybe talk to an Ob and/or a MW and see what options you have.

[fwlady]

This is my history in a nutshell;
1st-hosp csection for PIH after failed induction
2nd-hosp VBAC at 43+2 wks Got there at 7 and did great; 11 hrs total
3rd- hosp VBAC with a stranger OB because the hwys were closed down; high risk (s)OB has never seen a purebirth; from "real labor" to birth was 57min
4th-planned UC/HB; water broke, 19 hrs from water breaking/labor, transfer after for placenta but should have sat on toilet
5th-planned UC (UP at 32 wks to 26 days late), waterbirth, everything went great
6th-UP/planned UC, transfer before baby because of meconium after 90 hrs PROM, labor hit at 90 hrs and mec happened; hosp VBAC, was wonderful
7th- UP/UC, suspected lost twin confirmed after birth, transfer after for PPH

PG with #8, 14 days overdue today. We have had MW/OB care because of losing a twin again at 11wks. I fear another PPH. That is my biggest reason to plan a hosp birth, because I have to be here for my children. Hotel UC seemed like a great option. Esp after I had to fire my MW/OB at 39 wks. My BP is really bad right now, and I was released to go ahead and wait at home for labor to hit. But, they kept me for a while. Total bedrest and I can't have all my kids here to raise my BP or keep DH from being able to drop and run with me. My labors can go fast, we are pretty far out from any hospital, let alone the one I walked into. The drs were great, esp the one that got me.

SO, we wavered, but I have always thought I might as well plan a hospital birth. There are just so many factors. I have even considered a RCS, after 6 VBACs!! I made an appt for one while in the hosp, but then cancelled it because we are doing so well. After reading the paper, I decided it would be better to VBAC as long as the baby is okay. I may get that epi though, that I have also considered all along. One just doesn't forget the pain after #6. #7 was my least painful birth, and I think because my uterus didn't contract hard to get him out, it didn't feel the need to contract hard for the rest (which included the lost twin, placenta came out fine). So, I want that assurance that they can do something for me on that front. My recovery last time was HORRIBLE because of the blood loss.

So, at any rate. You aren't alone. We each have to make decisions based on the info we have and hope that it turns out the way we want it to. When someone says, "don't care if boy or girl, just a healthy baby is all we want" really rings true with us, since our 2yo has been sick most of his life. We want a healthy baby. So, whatever it takes to achieve that. I have to be healthy too, so it is a hard balance. A RCS isn't going to achieve that for me, since I have so many responsibilities and limited help. I think that a VBAC baby is a healthier baby, but I haven't dealt with what you have. And, so far, my baby isn't in distress. I have many very overdue babies, as the doc put it, that are healthy. There is no reason to believe going overdue with this one, despite the BP issues, is going to change that. So, he let me go home. We go back for another NST on Monday if she doesn't show up by then. My previous MW didn't take me seriously about the headaches, spots, and BP spikes I was noticing after I went to the ER for a migraine and my BP was through the roof. So, I started monitoring. It was probably just as well that I fired them. I think that I am getting excellent care where I went.

The dr did want to gently induce, but I think that is tempting fate. I will go into labor naturally or have an RCS. Inductions haven't gone well with me. My 4th was a "natural" home induction, and although it turned out well, we had some really scary moments there. And, I know she is different now. Not sure if that is just her way (she is a lot like my bio mother) or if it is from her birth.

Pray if you do that. Discuss things with your DH. It is your body and baby and you know what you can and can't handle. Make a priority list and go with several plans to try to achieve them. Kymberli